Officially a Tummy Tucker now! - Nova Scotia

Just had my three week post op check with the PS and got the okay to take the binder off - woo hoo, hip hip hooray I am free! I have a feeling that I may put it back on from time to time if I've had a long day.

The steri strips came off and my incision looks pretty good, he was happy with how it was healing. I have one tiny spot that bled when I took one of the strips off (pin drop sized) so I kept a couple steri strips over that area. The skin still looks a bit swelled and a few wrinkles here and there that I hope will smooth out. I also hope that I still have swelling that is going to go down as I am fuller just below my belly button than I was before.

My belly button has a small separation of the skin - Dr. said to keep it covered in polysporin and keep a bandage over it (same advice I got from another kind person on these forums). I have to go back in Mid-Jan to check that it's closing okay - but if I am concerned about how it's healing I can go in to see him before then. I'm not overly amused that this happened, but he explained why it happens (has to do with cauterization and not enough blood supply over the thin skin area in that part of my BB). SO - I will have a bandage over my BB for a while, guess I can deal with that :)

SO - as soon as I got home, the binder came off! I'm not sure how jeans are going to go, will keep a few bandages onhand to cover up if I'm feeling the urge to wear my jeans anytime soon. Glad the binder is gone though - I have to wear business wear next week for a course that I'm taking as part of my MPA (Management) and I was wondering how I was going to swing that.

I think i'm fairly happy with the results so far - patiently waiting to see how things progress over the next few months and what the final result will look like. I have a feeling I may be interested in lipo for my hips and back of my legs...but will give it some time. I really am happy with my belly and my new look - never expected to be model thin or flat and I think my PS did a great job of matching my belly to my overall physique - didn't want to be pancake flat with curves elsewhere :)

My Dr. gave me the name of a Silicone gel to put on my incision site - twice a day for 3 months! I had to order it in at our local pharmacy and will pick it up tomorrow :)


Now to get brave and venture out and buy a bikini! I think I will end up having to get a boy shorts style bikini due to my scar, but will have to wait and see how they fit/look.

Well - I am now at 2 weeks post op + one day and going strong! Moving around well, standing up straight, can cough somewhat without dying in pain and my incision seems to be healing well.

Only issue I seem to have developed is a problem with a small part of my belly button. It seems to have opened up on the bottom bit, you can see it in the close up photo I've added. Seeing my doctor on Monday and hopefully he'll know what's going on and be able to tell me what to do about it. I don't think my belly button looks overly natural - will ask about that a well.

All in all, I can't complain a bit about my progress so far! I couldn't really tell a difference in the swelling and shape of my tummy, but looking at my last pics, I can see a big difference. Curvier for sure - still adjusting to the change in looks of my body. Looking forward to another week off work!

Day 11 post op - today is the first day that I feel like I could go around without my binder on! I've had it off for showers and to just rest a bit from it, but always felt way better when it was back on. Not today baby! There's no holding me back now - except for the pesky 10 pound weight lifting limit.

I don't take any pain pills now, except for when I go to bed, and that's just for comfort so I can sleep on my side for a bit. It doesn't hurt, but it feels different and funny, so this way I don't feel that and can get a good sleep.

I received some papers from work today and I am thinking about taking another week off work - it's there for me to take (at full pay which is a bonus) so I figure why not. Will have to get extra forms filled out by my PS, but that shouldn't be a problem. Hey - who can't use more time off work!

Oh, and I discovered today that I am officially walking completely normal now - no hunching over at all - woot! Good positive progress - sure hope it continues :) Will post new pics soon :)